Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research

Planning ahead for the Nursing Research Expo

Do you have a research project that you’ve been working on? Have you ever thought about submitting an abstract for the annual nursing research expo? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, then now is the time to get organized!

The nursing research expo will be held in May next year, during Nurse’s Week. As in previous years, it will showcase the work of nursing research from within our very own walls of MGH and will culminate in an interactive poster presentation bringing together all researchers in one central location. This is a fabulous opportunity for the nursing community to learn about the many exciting studies underway at MGH, and for those researchers (namely, you!) to disseminate the findings.

We know that submitting an abstract for the expo can be intimidating, but you don’t have to go about it alone, and we are here to help you. Given the right resources and planning, the process can actually be straightforward, very manageable, and extremely rewarding. To begin with, we will be offering an abstract writing class presented by Carolyn Paul, MSLS, MPH, associate director, Treadwell Library. This is an informative session that can help you get started with your ideas (for date, see below). Then the new Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research website (www.mghpcs.org/munn) will give you all the details you need about the three categories of study (original research, evidence based practice, and performance improvement) and examples and requirements for each. Your unit CNS, doctorally prepared nurses, as well as Jeffrey Adams, RN, PhD (nurse scientist) and Teresa Vanderboom, MS, ANP-BC, CNRN (nurse practitioner) of the NRE Committee, are all available resources as you consider the elements of your study and if you have enough data to submit an abstract.

Abstract Categories:

Original Research: The purpose of research is to generate new knowledge within the broader scientific community to produce knowledge that is generalizable beyond the study sample.
Evidenced- Based Practice: The purpose of EBP is to evaluate evidence along a continuum to identify the strongest or best evidence to guide nursing practice within an organizational setting and with a specific patient population.
Quality Improvement: The purpose of QI is to improve internal processes and practices within a specific patient group or organization.Once you’ve decided which category your study is suited for, refer to the criteria as outlined while you are composing your abstract. Be sure to carefully read the criteria described in each category since this is how your abstract is judged. Remember that an abstract is a synopsis of your study, so you need to keep it brief and concise, with fewer than 300 words. On the website you will see examples of abstracts for each category that can help guide you. Please note that the deadline for abstract submission is January 31st—so now is the time to start!

Once you have your abstract completed, save it and follow the directions to submit it electronically on the Munn Center website. You will receive notice that it has been received and it will then be graded by our nurse reviewers. During the grading process, you may be required to make edits to your abstract. Please know that the feedback you receive is intended to be constructive and while it may be difficult to receive disappointing news, ultimately we want to help you and make your abstract the best it can be.

Once your abstract has been approved, you will then receive instructions on how to go about making your poster. For poster design, we encourage you to refer to the link on the website for specific ideas and suggestions on poster development. Your poster should be eye-catching and not too distracting; your audience wants to be able to quickly read your content and glean from it the basic purpose and outcome of your research.

The highlight of displaying your poster is the interactive poster presentation, which is held on the morning of nursing research day. This is a unique opportunity for you to describe your study in detail and engage in stimulating discussion about the highlights and challenges with fellow nurses who are interested in your work. Also during this time, your poster will be judged by outside nursing faculty with prizes awarded for the best poster. You won’t want to miss this, because in order to qualify for a prize you must be able to answer questions about your research to the judges.

And that’s about it in a nutshell! It doesn’t seem to difficult, does it? For any questions throughout the entire process, please contact Jeff Adams, RN, PhD at jadams9@partners.org, Teresa Vanderboom, RN at tvanderboom@partners.org, or Linda Lyster at llyster@partners.org in the Munn Center.

Timeline:
December 5       Abstract writing class (12-1 pm, Blake 8 conference room)
January 31        Abstract submission deadline
March               Poster production
May                  Poster presentation during Nurse Recognition Week

Some important points to keep in mind before you get started:

Deadline for abstract submissions is January 31, 2012
Your research must be completed, or at least analyzed using preliminary data
Use the grading criteria as you develop your abstract
Do not use references in the abstract
Keep the word limit to 300 or fewer
Have a colleague proof-read your abstract before submitting it
Author(s) must be present at the interactive poster presentation in order to qualify for prizes